Teal 

A common winter visitor and autumn passage migrant to the coast and the reservoirs, with a largest count of 5,600 at CVL on 15th December, 1984, present in small numbers elsewhere. A few usually over-summer at CVL but it has not bred there. A nest with eggs was found at Clevedon on 22nd May, 1952, while Palmer and Ballance (1968) give breeding records at BL for ‘before 1907’, 1915, 1926 (the SBR says three or four young, hardly able to fly, were seen with a duck in June), and probably other years to 1939. Although Wheeler (1874) said it was ‘rare, Clevedon, Portishead’ Charbonnier (1899) said it ‘occurs commonly on the Severn coast in winter’. The 1929 SBR gave it as ‘abundant in winter at BL where has bred occasionally. Occasional at BG, usually singly or in couples or small parties up to 12 or 15, rarely in larger numbers. Not uncommon on the coast’ while Davis (1947) said ‘chiefly an abundant winter visitor to the coast and inland waters but a few remain in summer’.